Christian Alvart lays on the symbolism in this oppressive, captivating galactic thriller
Pandorum (2009)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:66
Fresh:18
Rotten:48
Average Rating:4.2/10
Consensus: While it might prove somewhat satisfying for devout sci-fi fans, Pandorum's bloated, derivative plot ultimately leaves it drifting in space.
Australian Rating: TBC
Genre: Science-Fiction/Fantasy
Australian Theatrical Release:
Oct 8, 2009 Wide
US Box Office: $10,261,085
Synopsis:
In Pandorum, actors, Dennis Quaid (Vantage Point, The Express) and Ben Foster (3:10 to Yuma, Alpha Dog), join Cam Gigandet (Never Back Down, Twilight), Cung Le (Tekken, Fighting), newcomer Antje...
In Pandorum, actors, Dennis Quaid (Vantage Point, The Express) and Ben Foster (3:10 to Yuma, Alpha Dog), join Cam Gigandet (Never Back Down, Twilight), Cung Le (Tekken, Fighting), newcomer Antje Traue and director Christian Alvart (Antibodies) to tell the terrifying story of two crew members stranded on a spacecraft who quickly realize they are not alone.
Two astronauts awaken in a hyper-sleep chamber aboard a seemingly abandoned spacecraft. It's pitch black, they are disoriented, and the only sound is a low rumble and creak from the belly of the spacecraft. They can't remember anything - who are they, what is their mission? The only way out of the chamber is a dark and narrow airshaft. Corporal Bower (Foster), the younger of the two, crawls inside, while the other, Lt. Payton (Quaid), stays behind for guidance on a radio transmitter. As Bower ventures deeper and deeper into the ship, he begins to uncover a terrifying reality. Slowly the spacecraft's shocking and deadly secrets come unraveled, and the astronauts realize that the survival of mankind hinges on their actions. --© Overture Films
Starring: Dennis Quaid, Ben Foster, Cam Gigandet, Antje Traue
Starring: Dennis Quaid, Ben Foster, Cam Gigandet, Antje Traue, Cung Le
Director: Christian Alvart
Director: Christian Alvart
Screenwriter: Travis Milloy
Studio: Overture
Reviews for Pandorum
It's Alien meets The Descent in the new film Pandorum. It's a case of been there, done that. But does Pandorum manage to do it better?
"Pandorum" -- in which astronauts wake up, disoriented, in a craft that is terrorized by violent creatures -- is not original, but I figure any movie as icky as "Pandorum" is doing something right.
An intensely effective sci-fi chiller, mainly thanks to its canny set and sound design, and its constant, relentless sense of dread and tension.
Director Christian Alvart and screenwriter Travis Malloy must have seen Aliens in the cradle, for they’ve digested it with love and delivered smart thrills that will please more than genre fans.
Pandorum is dumb, noisy fun. Its flaws are inoffensive inasmuch as Alvart doesn’t give off Anderson’s noxious vibe of insincerity.
The script’s twisty, end-of-the-world intrigue saves this otherwise leaden film from total self-destruction.
The long middle portion does get tedious, obvious and downright laughable, but sci-fi fans probably won't regret the experience.
It's a tight, minimalist Alien-esque "something is loose and hunting people on our space ship" picture that is as claustrophobic as you'd expect, if not quite as paranoid as you might hope.
Alvart's cynicism about the current state of mankind helps make futuristic Pandorum interesting, but what makes it fun is his evident enthusiasm and talent for exploring the conventions of sci-fi films.
It’s a competent if unoriginal adventure but you do wish Alvart had had the courage of his convictions to go with the Pandorum idea rather bowing to the pressure of convention and basically resetting The Descent in space.
Riffing on Alien, Sunshine and Resident Evil, the German director Alvart finds an effective balance between action-excitement and psychological chills.
Pandorum is less a story than a prolonged bout of paranoid hysterics, exuberantly played out on metal gangplanks and inside Stygian tunnels. As such, it works just fine.
Do yourself a favour and keep the lid of Pandorum's box firmly closed.
Paul WS Anderson rains down another cinematic crapstorm with Pandorum, a confused, unfocused (sometimes literally) attempt to make an ideas-driven but mainstream sci-fi flick.
Latest News for Pandorum
September 24, 2009:
Stalked on a Spaceship! 10 Films Anticipating Pandorum
For critics, Pandorum has been like an alien in the ventilation shafts -- it's on the radar, heading towards them, but they just can't see it, no matter how hard they try. The... More...
September 24, 2009:
Critics Consensus: Surrogates Is A Passable Thriller
This week at the movies, we've got robot clones (Surrogates, starring Bruce Willis and Radha Mitchell), artistic-minded freshmen (Fame, starring Kelsey Grammer and Megan... More...
September 22, 2009:
Dennis Quaid Talks Pandorum, G.I. Joe Sequel ![]()
Between trying to spark a space horror revival with "Pandorum," reminiscing about the lost cut of "Enemy Mine," and pledging his support for "G.I. Joe 2," Dennis Quaid had... More...
February 21, 2009:
Just another Event Horizon? ![]()
More...
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